Classic & Vintage - MX Leader is OK

Guys,

Of course my early '90's Team Telekom livery pink and black Merckx is much better than just "OK." It's great. I love this bike.

That's why it's probably just as well it landed on me when I crashed last week on a triathlon training ride. Despite a high speed detour into some road debris that slammed me into the asphalt, "Emma" suffered only a small scratch on the after-market CF forks.

My broken arm (at the shoulder) is immobilized for eight weeks, but should show no signs of permanent damage. Looks like it is indoor trainers and kickboards in the pool only till spring! Wish I were 28 instead of 58 for purposes of recovery! (BTW, there is no road rash when you slam straight down. LOL!)

TysonB
Cushing, Oklahoma

Glad to hear that your Merckx is OK and had a soft surface to land on.



Oh yeah, glad to hear you (mostly) OK also.

Seems to be the weekend for crashing here at C&V.

Those MX Leaders have really thin tubing and are easily dinted. It was truely fortunate that you came between the bike and the road.

I hope you recover quickly after your sudden stop.

"MX Leaders have really thin tubing and are easily dinted"


Gary,

First thing I looked at when I made it over to the bike. A week later and I'm feeling somewhat better about both my arm and "Emma."

Thanks for asking. "Mimi", my upgraded U08, would have just laughed off this crash. It would take a head-on with a four-wheeler to get her dented or misaligned. She laughed at us when we got home, though!

Tyson

yikes.... doe s not sound fun at all....

as I sid in the other crash talk thread... my son and I were in the car the other day... and long came about 5 young guys on there spiffy newer road bikes probably going close to 35 down a long steep hill... I longingly looked at them ... not only were they in great shape and I am an older female and all... ooohhh they were so nice.... but I digressed there, I was longingly looking at them because of the speed they were traveling and I got an adreniline rush from watching them. My son mom that looks so scarey.... they are going so fast what if they hit a rock and crash... would they survive? heheheeh....

Those MX Leaders have really thin tubing and are easily dinted. It was truely fortunate that you came between the bike and the road.

I had always thought the MX Leaders were pretty stout. By the way, we don't "dint" bikes on the other side of the world - we "dent" them.

Glad to hear you weren't permanently injured & have a positive attitude for recovery. I had a similar fracture on Memorial Day & am just now almost back to what passes for "normal": working on my house & doing short rides. The hardest part is during the first weeks adjusting to sleep sitting up, dressing without making it hurt more and so on. Work hard at your physical therapy, it really does help. Don

LongBeachGary,

I had heard previously that the Leaders were indeed fragile. The tubing seems almost airily ("eerily?") thin when you tap it or simply hold it.

However in this incident which involved center punching through a 6-inch thick fallen cedar tree, I have come to the conclusion that they are tougher than they appear.

'Steel's Real' is more than a slogan.

TysonB
Cushing, OK

LongBeachGary,

I had heard previously that the Leaders were indeed fragile. The tubing seems almost airily ("eerily?") thin when you tap it or simply hold it.

However in this incident which involved center punching through a 6-inch thick fallen cedar tree, I have come to the conclusion that they are tougher than they appear.

'Steel's Real' is more than a slogan.

TysonB
Cushing, OK

I went out to the garage and gave the MX a tap. The top tube does make a noise that sounds strangely like an aluminum can. GEEZ.